Apparatus for treating and finishing sized hats.



W. W. RIDAY. APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING SIZED HATS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 5,1916- Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

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WILLIAM W. RIDAY, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND FINISHING SIZED HATS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

Application filed February 5, 1916. Serial No. 76,262.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM /V. RIDAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Treating and Finishing Sized Hats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for treating to first soften or mull and then dry and finish sized straw and other material hats. The apparatus is arranged with provision to first steam the straw or other material hat to mull or soften the material of the hat, after which it is subjected to an atmosphere of air or other fluid in a confined chamber to finish the hat and while mounted on a heated former, in the said chamber tothereby finish and stiffen the shaped hat, whereby upon removal from the said former and chamber it is ready for immediate use, without further handling.

Hitherto it has been proposed to first soften a straw hat and to then press it by a vacuum created against a perforated mold by the use of an elastic and imperme able membrane or diaphragm, the vacuum being produced on the under side of the said membrane or diaphragm and pressing the hat against the said mold and interposed hat shape, but after removing from the mold it had to be hung up in a room to dry for several hours before being ready for use or shipment. This mode is not only slow but quite expensive both from the time required to finish and necessary handling of the goods. According to my invention the previously sized straw hat is simply for a few moments placed on a hat-shaped heated former in a steam expanding chamber to soften or mull the straw of the sized hat, the steam is then eliminated from the chamber in which the straw hat is confined, without handling and air or other elastic fluid under pressure admitted in the presence of the thus held straw hat 011 the former to stiffen and finish the same so that upon elevating the hood and manually releasing the hat, it will be brought thereby into a condition for immediate use or shipment.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1, is a vertical central sectional View, partly in elevation, of a portable apparatus found well. adapted for the conduct of my method of treating for drying and finishing a sized straw hat and the said view showing in constructive arrangement an apparatus, embodying salient features in conjunction with the method of carrying out my said invention; and

Fig. 2, is an elevational view of said apparatus, showing the shiftable jacketed hood elevated so as to expose the hat-shape former mounted on hollow perforated base with a heater located in the interior of said former, all arranged for carrying out efficiently-the defined method of my said invention.

Referring to the drawings, a is a hollow base fitted with controlled pipe fittings 6& and a and a. controlled vent-tube 64 for conveying condensed steam or other fluid to a suitable waste receptacle. The roof of the hollow base is perforated at a, and a coiled or chambered steam or other elastic fluid heater 6, is mounted thereon and connected therewith are controlled pipe fittings b and FF, to admit and discharge steam or other elastic fluid to and from the said heater. The said pipe fittings extend through the base a. Above the heater 6, is placed a perforated hat-shape former c, for being heated and maintained in a heated condition by the said heater 5, for use. A domeshaped jacketed hood (Z, is mounted on the roof of the base a, and hinged thereto as shown at (Z so as to be readily elevated by means of a hand lifter 03 as occasion require, for permitting of the ready insertion and removal of a straw or other material hat to and from the said former c, therein. The jacketed dome-shaped hood (Z, is provided with controlled pipe fittings (Z and d for heating the same and with a controlled pipe fitting (Z extending there through for forcing air or other elastic fiuid into the chamber formed by the said hood (Z, resting on the roof of the base a, for stiffening and finishing the straw hat in a heated condition held on the former c. This finishing is resorted to after steaming of the hat has ceased which has softened or mulled the same to bring it into a condition 'to be then dried and stiffened or finished when the hood is elevated and the previously sized and mulled straw hat is removed from the former a, in the required condition for immediate use or shipment.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In an apparatus of the character described, a hollow-base arranged with pipefittings and with a perforated roof, a steam or elastic fluid heater mounted on said roof, arranged with pipe fittings extending through said base, a perforated hat former surroundlng said heater and a jacketed hood connected with the roof of said base and arranged with pipe-fittings for heating the same and a pipe-fitting extending therethrough for forcing air or other elastic fluid into the chamber formed by said hood, the arrangement being such that the hat in a heated condition is held by said former after the steam through said fittings is cut-off, which has softened or mulled the hat, air or other elastic fluid is admitted through certain of said fittings to cause the hat to be quickly dried and finished so that by removal of the same then from the said former it is in a condition for immediate use, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM W. RIDAY.

Witnesses JOHN P. KELLY, HARRY Gr. TAUNT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for .five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of EPatents,

Washington, D. 0. 

